First Practice Completed

Well, Maryland’s first day – make that night – of practice is in the books. Coach Ralph Friedgen pushed the late afternoon practice back to 7 p.m. because of the heat. Reporters are allowed in only for the first five periods. So a handful of reporters headed their separate ways for some food before returning around nine, when the lightning started in the distance. Friedgen got the last half hour of practice in, and that’s when the rain started in earnest.

I’m having some trouble reading my notes from the post-practice Friedgen interview through my rain-soaked notebook, so this will be brief for tonight, and I’ll return to it tomorrow morning.

 Friedgen said the young quarterbacks did pretty well in the first practice. He said senior starter Chris Turner looked particularly sharp. Jamarr Robinson, after solid play in the spring, is the frontrunner to be the backup QB, while freshmen C.J. Brown and Danny O’Brien are in the mix for third string.

 Overall, Friedgen said the freshmen did a lot better than he expected. He said 95 percent of players are in good shape. A couple players cramped up – cornerback Richard Taylor among them – and needed some fluids.

 Cody Blue is moving from the defensive line to the offensive line because Friedgen said they need some height. The 6-foot-5, 270-pound freshman has the better chance to play on the offensive line, Friedgen said, but Blue will probably redshirt this season.